Last days in Jaipur

Two days ago, some of us visited the Monkey Temple– outside of Jaipur, near mountains, a kind of broken down abandoned place. But there are people, monks, kids swimming, a scant few tourists, and monkeys.

Ganesh, inside of one of the temples. The buildings are like abandoned castles and have temples, shrines, and icons in otherwise empty rooms, throughout. You’re walking barefoot along hot marble, you walk up an empty staircase or turn a staircase, and there is another vista, or peeling wall of color, or breathtaking idol.

One of the monks, inside a tiny room shrine. He anointed the top of our hands with perfume, and then our foreheads with bright orange, and then came around, asking our names, and brushing the top our our heads with a feather bouquet.

The colors and smell, and heat, and concentrated devotion, were so intense. I get a feeling like my elbows and sides are kind of getting floaty, with the potential to expand out. Hard to explain. Like getting light headed, but in my body’s structure, and in a good way.

I can’t get enough of these empty rooms, with old painting and detailing. This room reminds me of an old dowager, who once was the belle of the ball, but now is aged, and her skirts are drooping and her hair fallen. Plus, the monkey.

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The next day, our entire group took a walking tour of Old Jaipur, including the insides of the walled city. Old Muslim worship spaces, from Mughal times, have been turned into apartments. Shops, animals, children, laundry, shrines, food, trash, and noise abound.

Tough little girl, with fabulous shoes, outside one of the gates.

View from the outer walled space into the inner walled room. I love the curlicues of marble and plaster.